WordValedenotation
the literal meaning of a word
the literal, dictionary meaning of a word
In more detail
1. (noun) the literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to feelings or ideas that it may suggest
2. (noun) the act of indicating or referring to something
Examples
- 1. The denotation of the word "home" is simply a place where someone lives, though it often carries emotional associations.
- 2. The arrow's denotation on the map showed the direction of north.
How to use denotation
Denotation refers to the explicit, literal meaning of a word—what it straightforwardly refers to—as opposed to connotation, which covers the associated feelings, values, or ideas it carries. It is commonly used in linguistics, literary analysis, and semantics to distinguish objective reference from subjective emotional or cultural baggage.
Common phrases
- the denotation of a word
- literal denotation
- denotation and connotation
- primary denotation
- strict denotation
Synonyms
literal meaning · direct meaning · dictionary definition · reference
Opposites
connotation · implication · suggestion
Word family
denote (verb) · denotative (adjective) · denotatively (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse denotation with connotation, using them backwards or treating them as synonymous rather than as complementary concepts.
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